Tray clip



R. HAYDOCK Dec. 13, 1960 TRAY CLIP Filed March 51, 1958 til/s.

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United States Patent TRAY CLIP Raymond Haydock, 6711 Lightfoot Ave., Chicago 46, 111.; said Raymond Haydock, trustee Filed Mar. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 725,251

4 Claims. (C1. 24-257) The present invention relates to a clip, for use as on a tray.

The invention in its broader aspects involves a device that it is secured to one member for releasably or detachably securing that member temporarily to another memher. One of the most common uses to which such device ma be put is on a folding individual table including a collapsible stand and a tray mounted thereon. The t ble may be set up to stand.ng position and the tray clipped thereon in a horizontal position. When it is desired to store the table, the tray is removed from the stand, on at least one side, and the stand with the tray is folded to a collapsed position in which it occupies a relatively small space.

An object of the invention is to provide a clip of the foregoing nature which is simple, strong and inexpensive.

A further object is to provide a clip of the general character noted above, having a pair of spaced arms for resiliently and yieldingly gripping a member, such as a rod, in which the elements or portions making up the clip are so relatively shaped and proportioned as to provide maximum flexibility at the extremities of the arms where most needed, and at the opposite ends of the arms, where less flexibility is needed, to provide a base portion of relatively great d mensions for providing relatively great strength.

Still another object is to provide a clip of the general nature referred to above in which the base portion is of relatively great outside dimensions but is provided with recesses or cells for reducing the mass of the base portion, in which are formed rib portions specially arranged for providing maximum strength approximating that of a solid mass of material of said outside dimen- Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a pre ferred embodiment thereof.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a foldable stand and tray, including a clip having the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the clip, being oriented in the same direction as that of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a view from the bottom of Figure 3, but with the central rod omitted;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the article or device, taken at line 55 of Figure 3;

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5, and includes a portion of the tray to which the clip is secured; and i Fig. 7 is a view taken of line 77 of Figure 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, attention is directed first to Figure 1 showing a portion of a foldable individual table 10, of a kind and size suitable for one person, as for supporting a plate for eating, and is made up of a tray and collapsible stand. The tray is indicated at 12 and the stand at 14. It will be appreciated that the stand 14 may be of any of various desired constructions, such stands being well known; in the present instance it is preferably made up mainly of elements in rod form, of which one is shown at 16 and as here illustrated includes a top horizontal portion 18 and a vertical leg portion 20. The clip embodying the features of the present invention is shown at 22 and is secured to the tray 12, in a manner described in detail hereinbelow. The clip releasably or detachably grips the rod element 18 of the stand 14, and in that manner releasably secures the tray to the stand.

The clip 22 is an integral piece and is preferably of a molded thermo-plastic material which may be any of a number of known kinds. The clip is preferably of rectangular outline form as viewed in top or bottom view (Figs. 4 and 5, respectively) and in side view (Figs. 2 and 7) while in end view, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, it is of modified U shape. The clip includes a base portion 24, and arms 26 extending from the base portion, with tapered portions 2% forming transition portions between the base portion and arms.

For purposes of facilitating description of the article, it will be regarded as oriented according to a central axis 17 which, when the clip is in gripping relation on the rod element 18, coincides with the longitudinal central axis of the rod element. Such axis is at the center of the circle defining the rod element 18 in Figure 3. The clip as oriented according to said axis includes end surfaces 30 and side surfaces 32. The clip also includes a planar surface 34 (Figure 5) which for convenience is referred to as a base surface, and which engages in flat abutting relationship, the surface of the member to which the clip is to be secured, namely, the tray 12 of which an element is shown in Figures 3 and 6.

The base portion 24 of the clip is of relatively great thickness throughout most of its area, in direction along a line extending between the axis 17 and the planar surface 34. The central portion of the base portion, indicated at 36, is of minimum thickness and it progressively thickens laterally toward the sides 32 from which the arms 26 extend. The tapered transition portions 28, referred to above, progressively merge into the arms 26. The arms 26 adjacent their extremities are of substantially uniform thickness, from the tapered portions 28 to their extremities 38. The extremities of the arms are spaced apart and have rounded surfaces of a diameter similar to the thickness of the arms. The base portion 24 and the arms 26 together provide an inner surface 40 which is cylindrical in shape and extends more than The shape of the base portion 24, the transition portions 28 and the arms 26, at the respective sides of the clip, form generally tapered effect, i.e., the dimension of the arms and portions of the base portion from which they extend gradually decrease in thickness toward the extremities of the arms. There is no portion of the arms 26, tapered portions 23 and base portion 24, in which the thickness increases in direction from the base portion to the extremities of the arms; hence the flexibility of the clip increases generally progressively from the base portion to the extremities of the arms, and at no point is the flexibility greater than at any point closer to the extremities of the arms.

Preferably the outer side surfaces 32 of the base portion taper slightly from the planar surface 34 toward the extremities of the arms, as shown most clearly in Figures 3 and 7.

The spacing of the extremities 38 of the arms 26 is such, relative to the flexibility of the arms, as to enable them to be flexed sufficiently to enable the rod element 18 to be passed therebetween. The character of the material from which the clip is made is such that the clip not. only possesses such flexibility as noted, but also such firmness and strength as to establish firm gripping action between the arms and the rod element. The relation just stated enables the tray 12 to be mounted on the stand 14 or removed therefrom conveniently by applying the necessary pressure by the hand, but not to be easily displaced therefrom in the normal use of the tray.

Preferably the end surfaces 30 of the clip are planar in form, as is the surface 34 as indicated above, and all other surfaces are straight in direction parallel with the axis 17. The clip is smooth on all external surfaces,

and presents a neat, trim and pleasing appearance. Theoverall effect of the shape of the clip, is a curvature in transverse direction similar to or resembling that of the rod element to which it is secured.

The base portion 24 is provided with recesses or cells 42 for the purpose of reducing the total mass of material required for the clip. These recesses or cells are located in and extend substantially the depth of the tapered transition portions 28 and open through the planar surface 34. The recesses or cells are defined on opposite sides by ribs 44 which are disposed in planes perpendicular to the axis 17. These ribs, being so positioned relative to that axis, provide maximum strength in the base portion, which approximates that of a base portion that is solid and has the same outside dimensions, in the direction desired, namely, against the effects of the flexing move ment of the arms 26 in snapping the clip onto and removing it from the rod element 18, i.e., movement of the extremities of the arms toward and from each other.

The base portion 24 is provided with apertures 46 located centrally of the side surfaces 32 for securing the clip on the tray. Securing means such as rivets 48 (Fig."

ure 6) are inserted in these apertures and aligned apertures in the tray for securing the clip to the tray. In view of the firm engagement of the planar surface 34 with the tray, throughout its area, the forces imposed on the base portion by the outward flexing of the extremities of the arms 'is transmitted to the laterally outer, and relative thick parts of the base portion, which effectively resist the forces imposed on the base portion.

'It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. An article of the character disclosed adapted for detachably gripping a member of cylindrical shape and comprising an integral piece of flexible material having portions and components arranged relative to an axis coinciding with the axis of the cylindrical member when the article is ingripping relation thereto, the integral piece including a generally rectangular base portion of substantial length and breadth and arms extending therefrom, said base portion having substantial thickness along a line perpendicular to said axis and having a plane base surface perpendicular to said line for flat abutting relation to a member to which the article is adapted to be secured,

said arms being disposed on opposite sides of said axis, and contained entirely within the projection of said base portion, said arms being flexible toward and from each other, and the arms extending the full length of the base portion whereby they are relatively rigid with respect to forces applied lengthwise of the base, and said base portion and arms together having side surfaces generally tapered toward'each other from the base surface toward the extremities of the arms, and further having an inner cylindrical surface concentric with said axis, said cylindrical surface being greater than 180 in circumferential direction and the extremities of the arms being spaced apart whereby, upon flexing of the arms toward and from each other, to enable insertion of a member of cylindrical shape therebetween, the arms and the portions of the base from which they extend being so shaped and proportioned that the flexibility of the article increases generally progressively from the base portion to the extremities of the arms so that at no'point thereof is the flexibility greater than at a point closer to the extremities of the arms, the base portion and each arm at the respective side f the article having a generallytapered shape from said plane base surface toward the extremity of the arm in a plane perpendicular to said axis, the base portion having open recesses formed in said tapered portions whereby to reduce the mass of the article.

2. An article of the character disclosed comprising a molded integral piece of thermoplastic flexible material including a base portion and arms extending therefrom,

the article having end surfaces and side surfaces relative to a predetermined axis through the article, said base portion having substantial thickness along a line per pendicular to said axis and having a plane base surface on the side thereof remote from said axis and perpendicular to said line, the arms being disposed at the sides of the base portion on opposite sides of said axis, the base portion and arms together having an inner cylindrical surface concentric with said axis and extending more than 180, the extremities of the arms being spaced apart whereby to enable insertion of a member therebetween, the base portion at each side thereof and the respective arm being generally tapered from said.

plane base surface toward the extremity of the arm whereby to provide generally progressively increasing flexibility from the base to the extremity of the arm and whereby at no point therein is the flexibility greater than at a point closer to the extremity of the arm, the side surfaces of the article being tapered from said plane surface toward the extremities of the arms a portion of the distance to said extremities and thereafter following a curved surface substantially concentric with said axis, the surfaces of the extremities of the arms defining curves having a radius substantially equivalent to one-half the thickness of the arms, said inner surface, side surfaces, and curved surfaces on the extremities of the arms being straight in direction parallel with said axis, the end surfaces being planar, said plane base surface having length and breadth at least as great as the corresponding dimensions of the remainder of the article, the base portion having recesses formed therein opening through said plane base surface and extending in direction of the thickness of the base portion substantially the depth of the tapered portions, and having ribs defining surfaces of said recesses and lying in planes perpendicular to said axis, the base portion also having apertures disposed centrally of the sides of the article for receiving means for securing the article to another member.

3. An article of the character disclosed comprising an integral piece made of material having a significant degree of flexibility, and including a base portion of generally rectangular form of substantial length and breadth having a planar base surface extending its full length and breadth, and adapted to flatly engage, throughout its surface, an object to which the clip is to be secured, the clip having arms extending from the base portion on opposite sides of a predetermined axis parallel with said base surface, the base portion and arms having a substantially continuous inner surface curved concentrically about said axis and extending the greater part of a circle, said base portion having an aperture disposed centrally between said arms for receiving securing means, the clip having planar end surfaces perpendicular to said axis defining the ends of the clip and to and between which all portions of the clip extend, and side surfaces parallel with said axis inclining toward each other in progression from the side edges of the base surface including generally flat portions adjacent the base surface which merge into curved portions at locations that are remote from the base surface and which form the outer surfaces of the extremity portions of said arms, said base portion having solid portions distributed so that a line extended through the base portion in any direction parallel with said base surface encounters those solid portions, said arms and at least parts of the base portion adjacent thereto and from which the arms extend having limited flexibility for flexing toward and away from each other, and being so shaped, dimensioned and proportioned that the flexibility thereof increases generally progressively in direction from the base portion to the extremities of the arms, and at no point therein is the flexibility greater than at a point closer to the extremities of the arms.

4. An article of the character disclosed adapted for detachably gripping a member of cylindrical shape and comprising an integral piece of flexible material having portions and components arranged relative to an axis coinciding with the axis of the cylindrical member when the article is in gripping relation thereto, the integral piece including a base portion and arms extending therefrom, said base portion having substantial thickness along a line perpendicular to said axis and having a plane base surface perpendicular to said line for flat abutting relation to a member to which the article is adapted to be secured, said arms being disposed on opposite sides of said axis and extending the full length of the base portion, and said base portion and arms together having an inner cylindrical surface concentric with said axis, said cylindrical surface being greater than 180 in circumferential direction and the extremities of the arms being spaced apart whereby, upon flexing of the arms, to enable insertion of a member of cylindrical shape therebetween, the arms and the portions of the base from which they extend being so shaped and proportioned that the flexibility of the article increases generally progressively from the base portion to the extremities of the arms so that at no point thereof is the flexibility greater than at a point closer to the extremities of the arms, the base portion and each arm at the respective side of the article having a generally tapered shape from said plane base surface toward the extremity of the arm in a plane perpendicular to said axis, the base portion having open recesses formed in said tapered portions whereby to reduce the mass of the article, the base portion additionally having ribs in said tapered portions defining sides of said recesses and extending in planes perpendicular to said axis, said ribs being disposed entirely inwardly of the article relative to said plane base surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 44,079 Van Jan. 6, 1891 1,423,043 Steinheiser July 18, 1922 2,161,855 Copell June 13, 1939 2,470,811 Engleman May 24, 1949 2,523,185 Bedfore Sept. 19, 1950 2,802,249 Kulp Aug. 13, 1957 

